When it comes to maintaining privacy for chats, it has become common for major services to embrace secure messaging using end-to-end encryption.
From WhatsApp to Telegram and Facebook Messenger, they have all encrypted users' messages with keys so only the recipient and the sender can read them. No one will be able to easily intercept them as they pass through.
Unwilling to be left in the dust for too long, Microsoft also wants to protect its users' messages.
Partnering with Signal, the secure messaging app that counts whistleblower Edward Snowden among its fans, Microsoft adds end-to-end encryption to its Skype messaging service.
The feature is called Private Conversations.
What this means, all chat, files and audio messages will be secured when transmitted through the service.
Skype is already having more than 300 million monthly users. This makes it one of the most popular chat platform in the world. By adding the encryption feature, Microsoft hopes that Skype can be even with others that have already use encryption for their users.
The end-to-end encryption is initially available for Skype Insiders on Mac, Windows, Linux, Android and iOS. They can use the service as part of a beta test before it rolls out more broadly.
Both users will need to have the version capable to use the end-to-end encryption in order for them to message each other privately.
To enable Private Conversations, users must select the 'New Private Conversation' from Skype's 'Compose' menu, or from another user's profile.
The drawbacks on Skype's encryption feature is that it doesn't cover audio and video calls yet. Those two are only secured by the standard encryption that Microsoft already offers with this service. What's more, with Private Conversations turned on, Skype can still be able to access some information about its users' communications, like knowing when they occur, and how long they last.
So still, users must trust Microsoft with their metadata. But that however, is a decision people have to make with every encrypted communications service out there, not just for Skype.
"Skype is one of the most popular applications in the world, and we’re excited that Private Conversations in Skype will allow more users to take advantage of Signal Protocol’s strong encryption properties for secure communication," said Signal developer Joshua Lund.